RNIB Scotland’s Vision Support Service: Transcript
Willy Turner: My name is Willy Turner. I am 58 years old. I've had four strokes now. After my first stroke, I lost my eyesight.
I was devastated. I used to wear contact lenses and I knew what having bad eyesight was likebut not losing your eyesight. I wasn't mentally prepared to lose my eyesight. I've always beenreasonably fit, healthy and then one morning, I woke up and I couldn’t see. It's a devastation overnight that you have to deal with.
Nina Macintosh: My name is Nina Macintosh. I'm a Sight Loss Advisor, also known as a Vision Support Officer. I'm based in Ninewells Hospital and I work for RNIB Scotland. As a Sight Loss Advisor, we see loads of different people that are coming through the service that have just been told that they're losing their sight.
And for them, it's very emotionaland it's quite devastating.
We are here to help them through thatand talk to them about different products and aids, and adaptations that can helpmake their life more easy and a little bit more accessible. Maybe giving them advice on them wanting to get back into work orsaying they don't have to leave their job, so we're there for them to talk to, to listen to them and just provide any emotional practical and supportthat we can for them.
Kerry McEwen: My name is Kerry McEwen. I'm a Consultant Ophthalmologist here at Ninewells Hospital in Dundee.Unfortunately, our clinics are extremelybusy and therefore, we don't always have the time available to invest inthe patients, although we're very concerned about them and that'swhere this is enormously helpful because we can then refer them on tosomebody who has got more time at theirdisposal but also has the expertise andthe experience regarding being able to help them.
We support the work of clinicians by providing a link between the clients, ourselves and the clinicians. So when they come out of the treatmentroom or where they've just been seen, they've got all these medical thoughtsrunning through their heads and we're there to just sort of talk it over with them and talk it through.
Willy Turner: Having access to a Sight Loss Advisorwas influential on my state of mind at the time.I was in a state of shock and without the care and attention of the advisors; I don't think I’d be here today.
To find out more, visit
RNIB.org.uk/sightlosssupportscotland
RNIB Scotland: supporting people with sight loss.